Oklahoma City

Children will get a chance to learn more about the Oklahoma City bombing and how it may affect them when WTIC, Channel 61, presents "Talkin' It Out With John Walsh," a Fox Children's Network special to be broadcast Saturday at 11:30 a.m. In the commercial-free special, Walsh, a child-safety advocate and host of "America's Most Wanted," travels to Oklahoma City and meets with local children to discuss the emotions and feelings they are having in...

Metro Hartford often fares well in surveys that measure quality of life, but this one is a real surprise. The capital region came out No. 1 in the newly released "American Dream Cities 2013″ ranking of the largest U.S. metro areas, by Xavier University in Cincinnati and an Ohio marketing firm. Metro Hartford is not just on top — it's far and away ahead of the No. 2 metro, Jacksonville. How can this be? Despite rosy predictions by a national real estate firm, the Hartford area housing market remains ho-hum.

Two local women will travel to Oklahoma City this spring to present the state with a quilt that was crafted in memory of those who perished two years ago in the explosion of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Sharon Neumann-Lynes and Ruth Pranka will deliver the quilt to Gov. Frank Keating's office in June. The women are asking that area residents send letters and cards to show their support for those affected by the tragedy. Letters and cards can be sent to Neumann-Lynes at P.O. Box 95, Pleasant Valley, CT 06063.

By DOM AMORE, damore@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, June 3, 2014

WEST HARTFORD — The negotiating is over, the speculation subsided for now. Kevin Ollie's work at UConn continues. "It gives me security and the understanding I'm going to be here a long time," said Ollie, who signed a five-year contract on May 23. "There is going to be speculation every year, but the kids know I have their backs and their best interests at heart. I have a five-year contract and I believe I'm going to be here the whole five years. " After leading UConn to the national championship on April 7, Ollie became a hot coaching commodity, mentioned as a candidate for numerous NBA openings.

After listening for a few days to the fallout from the Oklahoma City bombing, Ed from West Hartford couldn't take it anymore. The mainstream conservative called a national radio talk show to complain that America's revulsion over the mass killing was smearing everyone who wasn't a liberal. "I think there's a gap between those who want less government, more personal freedom, and those who think they have a constitutional right to set off mortars in the woods," he said. In the wake of the bombing, Ed suggested, it was a tough time to be a conservative in America.

SITES First and second rounds: Iowa City; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Seattle; Piscataway, N.J. Regional semifinals and final: Oklahoma City. OVERVIEW A lot of attention will be on Oklahoma, the No. 1 seed. All-American Courtney Paris, whose sister Ashley also plays, has offered to give back her scholarship if the Sooners don't win a championship. Their father, former 49ers offensive lineman Bubba Paris, has put the pressure on coach Sheri Coale. If the Sooners, who start out with Prairie View, can get by the first two rounds, they would have a home-state advantage in the regional finals.

BASEBALL American League CLEVELAND INDIANS--Optioned RHP Bartolo Colon to Buffalo of the American Association. Added LHP Alvin Morman to the 25- man roster. TEXAS RANGERS--Recalled RHP Jose Alberro from Oklahoma City of the American Association. Assigned RHP Matt Whiteside to Oklahoma City.

A fund-raiser for victims of the 1995 bombing in Oklahoma City has been rescheduled for Sept. 1. The event will be on the grounds of the Westbrook Elks Lodge, with two tents, clowns, bands and children's amusements. Organizer George Pomer said proceeds will go to the Elks fraternal organization in Oklahoma City to help the victims. The event had been slated for late August.

D ustin Pedroia was called out at home on a close play in the seventh inning, and after a challenge, evidence was ruled "inconclusive," which drove Pedroia up the wall. "I just don't like the whole inconclusive deal," he said. "Replay, you should go check it out and you're either out or safe. I don't know what inconclusive means. Maybe that means someone doesn't want to make a decision. " It was big because the Red Sox lost to the Rays, 2-1. It's only a month, but this whole thing seems to be creating more problems than it is fixing … at least to the naked eye. Years ago, Tracy McGrady talked about wanting to pitch, and it was clear he was not joking.

The Sports Xchange Four ties among teams that finished the regular season with identical records were broken Friday through random drawings to help determine the order of this year's NBA draft, which is June 26. Here are the results of the drawings: ---Utah (25-57) won a tiebreaker with Boston. ---Brooklyn (44-38) won a tiebreaker with Washington. ---Chicago (48-34) won a tiebreaker with Toronto. ---Portland (54-28) won a tiebreaker with Miami and Houston; Houston then won a tie-breaker with Miami.

By JOHN ALTAVILLA, jaltavilla@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, March 22, 2014

— This weekend's NCAA Tournament games at Gampel Pavilion are expected to springboard UConn to the regional finals In Lincoln, Neb. And once there, the Huskies could find themselves in a position no team likely will ever face again on the way a possible Final Four. The Huskies and host Nebraska, the No. 4 seed in the Lincoln Regional, were aligned to meet in the Sweet 16 on March 29. And Stanford, Notre Dame and Louisville are also in position as hosts to play critical Final Four feeders in front of partisan seIlout crowds.

Forward Caron Butler, the former UConn star whose contract was bought out by the Milwaukee Bucks, plans to sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder after he clears waivers on Saturday, according to ESPN.com. Butler agreed to a buyout and was placed on waivers by the Bucks on Thursday. Oklahoma City reportedly appeals to Butler because the Thunder can offer him the most playing time while playing behind star Kevin Durant. Butler could see more action when the Thunder go to a smaller lineup with center Kendrick Perkins out for up to six weeks.

By DOM AMORE, damore@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, January 17, 2014

MEMPHIS - When Jeremy Lamb comes off the bench the Oklahoma City Thunder can expect good things to happen. A most recent example came against the Grizzlies at FedEx Forum Tuesday, when Lamb entered the game late in the first quarter, the Thunder down by seven. He ended up playing 29 minutes, scoring nine points, getting seven rebounds and, though Oklahoma City lost by three, the team was 12 points better when Lamb was in the game. "He's getting some good opportunities," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said.

By MARA LEE maralee@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, January 7, 2014

While the employment bases in Hartford and Fairfield counties did not grow quite as fast as those in Boston and New York, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the growth rate here is respectable compared with many other mid-sized urban areas around the country. Employers in Hartford, Middlesex and Tolland counties added a total of about 8,400 jobs from November 2012 to November 2013, a growth rate of 1.5 percent, according to Tuesday's release. Fairfield County added 8,000 jobs during the same period, a 2 percent increase.

By PAUL DOYLE, pdoyle@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, December 7, 2013

Oklahoma State's bid for a BCS bowl was spoiled by its fierce rival Saturday, but let's hear it for the Cowboys' kicker. As No. 18 Oklahoma upset No. 6 Oklahoma State 33-24, with a last-minute touchdown, there was one shining light for the losers. Oklahoma State kicker Ben Grogan booted a 41-yard field goal just as a 4.5 magnitude earthquake hit the area north of Oklahoma City. So the earth was moving, but Grogan converted the kick. Grogan is a freshman, but NFL scouts should keep an eye on him. Snow and wind?

boston.com reports : Police say a Fairfield man charged with possessing explosives said he had detonation cords for rockets and chemicals used in the bombings of the World Trade Center in New York in 1993 and federal office building in Oklahoma City in 1995. An arrest warrant also says Joseph C. Callahan claimed to be making a bomb for Rolling Stones rocker Keith Richards. Read the complete story at www.boston.com .